Couch potato bargains - thousands flock to Boxing Day sales but most shoppers get their best buys online

NaN:aN

SHOPPERS are increasingly deserting Boxing Day queues in favour of the couch - with online sales at major department stores on the nation's biggest shopping day of the year up by 500 per cent on last year.

Despite thousands of people flocking to department stores around the country yesterday in their attempts to snap up bargains, Myer boss Bernie Brookes spoke of the enormous volume of traffic flooding through Myer's online store.

"This morning in the first few hours of trade online we've done five times the volume of trade we did on Christmas last year," Mr Brookes said.

"So clearly a lot more people are shopping online and are taking advantage of free delivery so they can still watch the cricket from the comfort of their home."

Retailers have predicted Australians spent about $2.5 billion yesterday alone, with intrepid shoppers lining up from 6pm the night before to ensure they were first in the door for bargains.

Millions of fashion items, accessories, cosmetics, food, homewares and electrical goods had their prices slashed for the sales, with up to 60 per cent off in some sections.

But the benefit of convenience didn't stop fashion blogger Valerie Misoyannis from being one of the first in line at David Jones' city store.

She was happy to claim her $100 voucher and cash in on the bargains inside.

"I come every year - this is a pilgrimage for people who like to shop," she said.

Ms Misoyannis said she knew the floor plan for the Elizabeth St store perfectly, which would make it easier to locate the items she was after without too much competition from other shoppers.

"For Sydney prices they're not bad," she said.

"Perhaps it's still cheaper to buy online but I love the atmosphere. I love the feel of the clothes and I love talking to the sales people."

Australian Retailers Association's Russell Zimmerman said many shoppers were buying their goods online, particularly on Boxing Day .

"I think it's great to see retailers getting into an omni-channel space," he said.

"Obviously for consumers who are time poor it allows them to get through, have a look at those goods that they would normally have to rush out to the shops and look at."

David Jones chief executive officer Paul Zahra said the crowd outside his flagship store yesterday was a "great start" to the annual sales.

"I was actually quite surprised there were hundreds of people queuing up since last night," he said. "The sale is the best we have in the entire year, certainly for the season. It's not be missed."

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.